Permutation-lock.



R. M. THOMAS & W C. THOMAS, JR. PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I. 1916. Patented NOV". 13,-

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PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT. I. 19l6.

1 246,356. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

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ammmto w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMQND M. THOMAS AND WILLIAM C. THOMAS, JIR.., OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

PERMUTATION-LOGK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 191 '7.

Application filed. September 1, 1916. Serial No. 118,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RAYMOND M. THOMAS and WILLIAM C. THOMAS, J r., citizens of the United States, residing at Savannah, in the county of Ghatham and State of Georgla, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive yet an efficient and durable permutation lock for electric switches such as those used on automobiles; motor boats and the like, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular field.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in unique combinations of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptlve matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the 1mproved lock;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on the plane of theline 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical transverse'sections taken respectively on the planes ndicated by the lines 3 8 and H of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation.

In specifically describing the construction shown in the drawings above briefly described, similar characters will be employed to designate corresponding parts through? out the several views, and reference will be herein made to the numerous elements by their respective indices. To this end, the numeral 1 designates a cylindrical casing whose front end is closed by an integral wall 2 while a removablewall 3 closes the rear end of said casing, being held in place by set screws or the like a A flange 5 projects outwardly from the periphery of the casing 1 at the front end thereof and is adapted to bear against the dash of an automobile when said casing is passed through an opening in said dash, a nut 6 being threaded on the rear end of the casing to clamp the entire device in position, This construct-ion will of course permit the use of the device on other supports than the dash of a motor vehicle, but as above stated it is designed primarily for use in connection with such machines. I

A disk 7 contacts with the front end wall 2 of the casing 1 and is provided witha tubular hub 8 which extends into said casing through a central opening in said wall;

2, said hub being alined with similar hubs on a; number of disks located within the casing, two of such disks being shown in the present embodiment ofthe invention as indicated by the numerals 9 and 10. Thetherein a groove or channel 13 and is also provided with a trio of circumferentially extending grooves 14, Keys 15 in the form of set screws or'the like project inwardly from the hubs ofthe disks 7, 9 and 10 and are normally received in the circumferential grooves 14. Said keys,however, are adapted to be alined by proper setting of the disks so that when the bolt 11 is turned to the proper extent, all of said keys will be received in the channel 13, whereupon the bolt 11 is permitted to shift endwise. This movement closes the switch in a manner to be described. 1

For operating the interior disks-9 and 10 from the exterior disk .7, a radially projecting finger. 16 is provided, said finger having a hub 16 secured ,on the hub 8 by disks to change the combination as will be clear from Fig. 3.

Since ,it is essential that the three keys 15 all bear the same relation to the circumferential channels 14, the hubs of these disks preferablyabut each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and axial shifting of the numerous disks is prevented by means of a pair of ears 19 which are formed integrally with and project inwardly from the end wall 3 of the casing 1. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The fingers 19 also serve to receive the screws 4: which pass through casing 1.

Secured to suitable insulating means 20 which in turn is secured to the end wall 3 by means of screws or the like is a switch tongue 21 and a contact 22 which it engages when the switch is closed. When, however, the switch is to be held in open position, a block of insulation 23 on the rear end of the bolt 11 comes in contact with the tongue 21 when the bolt 12 is forced rearwardly as depicted in Fig. 2. When this has been done, the switch will be opened and by turning the bolt 11 and the numerous disks in any suitable way, said bolt will be locked in its rearmost position to prevent closing of the switch by unauthorized persons. There is nothing to prevent the legitimate user, however, from completing the circuit at will.

To yieldably retain the bolt 11 either in its rear or forward position, the rear end of said bolt is preferably formed with a pair of circumferential grooves 24 in which a spring 25 is adapted to be received. (See Figs. 2 and a.) The action of this spring also 'yieldably holds the bolt 11 to the position to which it has been adjusted by rotation. A similar braking action is exerted on the two disks 9 and 10 by appropriate springs 26 which are secured to the casing and bear against the peripheries of said disks.

By constructing the improved lock in the manner shown and described, it will be simple, inexpensive yet highly eificient and durable, and will be readily applicable to a wide range of uses.

In unlocking the device, the disk 7 is turned in one direction so that finger 16 comes contact with the stud 17 and thus turns disk 9. During this turning, stud 17 contacts with the stud 18 of the disk 10 and thus turns the latter. By the indicating means provided at the front end of the easing, it is known by the operator when disk 7 has been turned suficiently to position the disk 10 so as to locate its respective key 15 as shown in Fig. 2. This having been done, the disk 7 is turned in the reverse direction and through the instrumentality of finger 16 and stud 17, the disk 9 may-thus be set to aline the key 15 of said last named disk with that of disk 10. The disk 7 is now turned in the same manner as first described to position its respective key 15 in line with the others. Turning of the bolt 11 by its knob 12, to a predetermined position, will bring the longitudinal groove 13 in alinement with the keys 15 so that said bolt may move outwardly to permit closing of the switch. Locking of the device is practically a reversal of the operation just described.

In the drawings, certain specific details have been shown for accomplishing probably the best results, and reference has been herein made to such details, but it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed numerous changes may be made without sacrificing the principal advantages thereof.

WVe claim 1. A permutation lock comprising a casing closed at both ends and having alined openings in said ends, an operating disk contacting with the front end of said casing and having a hub extending into the opening of this end, a plurality of disks in the easing and having hubs alined with the hub of the first named disk, a bolt passing slidably and rotatably through all of said hubs and projectingthrough the opening in the rear end of the casing, said bolt having a longitudinal groove in one side and a plurality of spaced circumferential grooves entering said longitudinal groove, keys projecting inwardly from the hubs of the numerous disks and received in the circumferential grooves of the bolt, and means operable from the first named disk for so setting the other disks as to aline all of said keys to permit reception thereof in the longitudinal groove of the bolt, whereby the latter may be shifted endwise.

2. A permutation lock comprising a cylindrical casing closed at both ends and having alined openings in said ends, an operating disk in contact with the front end of the casing and having a hub extending into the opening of said end, other disks in the casing and having hubs alined with the hub of the first named disk, a bolt passing slidably and rotatably through the alined hubs and through the opening in the rear end of the casing, said bolt having a longitudinal groove and a plurality of circumferential grooves intersecting the same, keys extending inwardly from the hubs of the several disks and received in the circumferential grooves, means for operating the other disks from the first named disk to aline the keys thereof, and a spring secured'to the casing for exerting a braking action on the bolt to retard rotation thereof, said bolt having a pair of circumferential grooves near its rear end in which said spring is adapted to be received when Said bolt is shifted forwardly or rearwardly, whereby it will be yieldably held in either position.

3. A permutation lock comprising a casing closed at both ends and having alined openings in said ends, an operating disk con tacting with the front end of said casing and having a hub extending into the opening of this end, a plurality of disks in the casing having hubs alined with the hub of the first named disk, the several hubs being positioned in abutting relation, a bolt passing slidably through all of said hubs and pro jecting through the opening in the rear end of the casing, said disks and bolt having coaoting means for normally locking the latter against shifting, and a plurality of fingers projecting inwardly from the rear end of the casing with their inner ends positioned adjacent the rearmost disk to prevent axial movement thereof,

i. A permutation lock comprising a casing having both ends Closed, the Closure of the rear end of said casing being removable and held in place by screws passed through the casing wall, an operating disk contacting with the front end of the casing and having a hub extending into the latter through a central opening in said end, additional disks having hubs alined with the aforesaid hub, said disks being positioned in the casing and the several hubs being disposed in abut ting relation, a bolt passing slidably through the several hubs, said hubs and bolt having coacting means for normally preventing movement of the latter, and a plurality of fingers projecting inwardly from the removable rear end of the casing and having their inner ends positioned adjacent the rearmost disk to prevent axial shifting of the latter, said fingers receiving the aforesaid screws.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAYMOND M. THOMAS. WILLIAM C. THOMAS, JR.

Witnesses:

MAY M. GRUNBAUM, Jos. A. CRoNK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

